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July Buzz

So late one Friday night, a few weeks ago, I found myself in the Park Street T station (for those confused, this is our public transportation system in Boston). I couldn’t believe how totally immersed I was in Red Sox Nation. Everywhere I looked there were people in all types of Red Sox "gear". I was amazed at the depth and breadth of what people will wear to support their team and designate themselves as a fan. I felt like I was from another country because there were very few of us on the train without the full regalia, and wondered what inspires people to wear logos, themes, teams, schools and in some cases, x-rated clothing.

A few years back I went to my first Patriots football game and when I arrived at my nephews house he couldn't believe I didn't have any gear on so he lent me a Teddy Bruschi shirt (don't think I ever returned it, sorry Nick!) “How could you go to a game without your team colors?” is what I heard. I guess I thought that people would realize that if I was sitting with a pack of decked-out fans screaming and hollering for the Patriots, they would assume I was a fan as well.

It is amazing the things people will adorn their bodies with to get a point across. One of my favorite t-shirts has an arrow on it pointing to the mid-section that says baby on a very pregnant woman - good thing, because I don't know about you but I have learned to never ask when the baby is due because sometimes these people are not pregnant, so I found this one especially helpful. Rock band t-shirts are big as well; you can connect with fellow fans and talk about that fabulous concert tour and reminisce about fun times. I definitely think the college and school logo shirts are a big profit center for the universities, and for the money they charge they should include at least one t-shirt with the tuition! The summer months are busy in the bookstores when the whole family is touring, doesn’t everyone get a t-shirt? Everyone wants a t-shirt from Harvard. If you visit some schools they even put on their t-shirts "The Harvard of the South" North, West etc. – what a money maker!

Once I let my son pick out a t-shirt while in Aspen years ago and it was a picture of a beaver and it said "Save a tree - wipe your ass with an owl" (got a note from school, Never Wear the Shirt to Class Again!). I thought it was funny and don’t we need to laugh at ourselves more and not always be so politically correct? In fact a whole industry of politically incorrect t-shirts is booming and can make for great reading and laughs when bored on a train. I saw last week on the news about a couple of people starting a t-shirt business with area codes, who knew that could be in demand? Oh the influence of 90210, or better yet, who wouldn't want 02138? Of course, I myself am guilty of buying t-shirts whenever I travel for my kids and realized when my son was moving out that I need to stop. He had SO many shirts that he never wore and I thought he would just love. Alas, he loves to shop at dollar a pound in Cambridge for his t-shirts and wear someone else's leftover gear.

Buzz. Go sox!